Alignment guide



Jan. 30, 1968 Filed Jan. 28, 1965 H. KRAUS ALIGNMENT GUIDE 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY HEINZ KRAUS ATTORNEY.

Jan. 30, 1968 H. KRAUS 3,366,426

ALIGNMENT GUIDE" Filed Jan. 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2. I

ATTORNEY.

United States. Patent 3,366,426 ALIGNMENT G s Krau" Traunreut Upperavarla, ermany, a s i gflor to Firma Wenzler & Heidenhain, Traunreut,

near Traunstein, Upper Bavaria, Germany, a corpoti of Germany m on FiledJan. 28, 1965, 221'. No. 42J8,64;1 1964 121m 'ori a lication ermany an.C a PP w 36,098 9 Claims. (Cl. 308-6) The present invention relates toan alignment guide, in general, and to an apparatus for guid ng amember, for instance a tool or the like, along a guide path of a guldebody, in which the weight of the member 18 assumed by a carrying pathand the member carrier engages the guidth in articular. ln a knou lnapparatus of this kind, which serves the forming of grating lines, thetool holder is supposed to be moved linearly as much as possible 1n thedirection of the line to be formed, whereby particularly the deviationsto the right or the left from the prescribed moving path are to beavoided.

The apparatus is designed such that the carrier of the tool, which isconnected with a round guide by means of levers and a guide system, hasthe possibility to swing about the median axis of the round guide, andin particular up to the abutment of a slide shoe, secured laterally onthe lever, on the reference face of an optical face body.

The slide shoe does not engage the reference face of the face body bymeans of a point, rather its engaging face has a rectangularcross-section.

This arrangement ment brings about the drawback, that lateral deviationsfrom the prescribed movmg path of the guide system are transmitted tothe tool to be displaced linearly in such manner, that the slide shoeoperates a pivot point of a double-armed lever having nonequal arms. Thelever transmits, corresponding to the length of the lever, the mentioneddeviations at a reduced scale onto the tool.

Since the slide shoe is in engagement with the reference face of theoptical face body, a further drawback resides in the known structuresuch that based on the one-sided engagement force of the slide shoe, theoptical face body is deformed due to the bending stress crosswise to theprescribed moving path, whereby the manufacturing inaccurateness isadditionally worsened.

Furthermore, an apparatus of a similar structure is known, which avoidsthough the first drawback of the above described apparatus such that thetool holder, secured to the slide shoe, operates independently from thecoarse guide system.

The coarse guide comprises a slide guide in a groove on two sides, whichslide has a rectangular opening extending from its upper side to itslower side, through which opening extends a slide shoe with play.

The slide shoe is equipped with three projections which engage their ownguide path and which prevent any edging or tipping of the slide shoerelative to this guide path.

The slide shoe is urged towards the guide path by means of springs whichare supported on the mentioned slide. The slide of the coarse guidesystem constitutes simultaneously the drive element, so that thelongitudinal movements accorded to the slide are transmitted to theslide shoe.

If the inaccuracies, which are present or develop in the coarse guidesystem, cause deviations in the movement of the slide from itsprescribed working position, the slide can be moved relative to theslide shoe, whereby it does Patented Jan. 30, 1968 not transmit any ofits deviation movements to the slide shoe.

The movement plane of the slide shoe connected with the tool is thusproduced exclusively by the projections of the slide shoe engaging theguide path.

The drawback resides, however, the same as in the first describedapparatus, that due to the one-sided pressure force of the slide shoeonto the guide path, which is brought about by spring elements, theguide path is deformed crosswise to the prescribed movement path due tooccurring bending moments.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide analignment guide which avoids the drawbacks of the known structures.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an alignmentguide which eliminates deformations of the guide path by the completefreedom from any moments of the guide path.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide analignment guide wherein the guide body as well as the member carriersliding on its guide path are merely elements of a closed forcerectangle complying with the equilibrium condition and exerting onlypressure forces.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in thefollowing detailed description, the present invention will be clearlyunderstood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a section of the alignment guide designed in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section along the lines 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the alignment guide comprises adisplaceable member 1, which is movable by means (not shown), forinstance, by a threaded spindle or the like, perpendicularly to thesheet of the drawings of FIG. 1. The weight of the member 1 is taken up,as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, by means of rollers 5, 6 and 7 on asupporting path 8, which rollers 5, 6 and 7 are secured to the member 1by means of bearings 2, 3 and 4.

The supporting path 8 rests at its ends, as shown in FIG. 2, onsupporting bodies 9 and 10 by means of a three-point support (notshown), whereby the weight load of the member 1, which is assumed by thesupporting path 8, is fed by means of the supporting bodies 9 and 10 toa foundation (not shown).

The supporting path 8 is deformed due to the occurring bending momentsby the weight of the member 1, since the supporting path 8 is freelycarrying between the supporting bodies 9 and 10 and in particular thecarrying path 8 is deformed such, that the member 1 is subjected to adeviation movement, which is perpendicular to the movement of direction.It is, however, not the aim of the present invention to compensate forthe mentioned deviation movement. It is the aim of the presentinvention, as has been stated above, to assign to a member secured to acarrier 13 in its moving direction a movement parallel to a guide path12 of a guide body 11. The guide body 11 includes a second path or face30 on the side of the guide body 11 opposite the guide path 12. In orderto obtain the mentioned linear movement of the member carrier 13, thefork-shaped member 1 surrounds the guide body 11, and includes a firstside 1a and a second side 1b, respectively, extending adjacent and inspaced relationship relative to the guide path 12 and the second path30, respectively of the guide body 11.

The member carrier 13 is supported on the supporting path 8 by means ofrollers 15 and 16. The supporting path 8 is, as can be ascertained fromFIG. 1, equipped with a groove 8', so that the member carrier 13projects through the supporting path 8 without contacting the latter.The member carrier 13 has itself, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, likewise arectangular opening 13', so that the bearing 4 secured to the member 1can project through the member carrier 1 without engaging the same. Themember carrier 13 is brought into engagement with the guide path 12 ofthe guide body 11, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, by means of slide shoes17, 18 and 19 by means of a pretensioned catch 22, which can be securedby a nut 21. The catch 22 is formed in the present embodiment as aresilient three-armed spring blade.

The catch 22 is secured to one side of a part 23, and the other side ofthe part 23 is equipped with a groove of V-shaped cross-section. Thepart 23 is connected with a part 1 by means of a ball 24 guided in theV-shaped groove and centered in the threaded bolt 20. Since upon turningthe screw bolt 21 the catch 22 is subjected to a change of its lengthdue to its displacement, it is connected with the member carrier 13 bymeans of projections 25, 26 and 27 guided in V-shaped grooves andsecured to the catch 22.

The projections 25, 26 and 27 of the catch 22 which engage the V-shapedgrooves constitute simultaneously the coupling between the member 1 andthe member carrier 13, that means the longitudinal movements applied tothe member 1 are transmitted to the member carrier 13 by means of thecatch 22. The screw bolt 21}, nut 21, part 23, catch 22, projections 25,26 and 27, ball 24 and the mountings therebetween, constitute a firstpressure means.

A counter-pressure element 14 is disposed between the second side 1b ofthe member 1 and the second path on face 30 of the guide body 12 andaligned relative to the member carrier 13 such that the engaging pointsof rollers 31, 32 and 33 on the second path 30 of the guide body 11, aswell as the engaging points of the slides'hoes 17, 18 and 19 on th guidepath 12 of the guide body 11, as well as substantially the engagingpoints of the projections 25, 26 and 27 of the catch 22 in the V-shapedgrooves in the carrier member 13, are disposed always on a linear lineparallel to the direction of pressure.

The counter-pressure element 14 is maintained as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3in position by means of the screws 34 and 35 secured to the second side1b of the member 1.

The connection between the screws 4 and 35 and the counter-pressureelement 14 is flexible by means of balls 36 and 37 centered in thescrews 34 and 35. The guide body 11 is connected with the base plate 38,which has no connection with the carriers 9 and 10. The screws 34 and35, balls 36 and 37 and the mountings there'between constitute a secondpressure means.

The constructive arrangement of the present device described inconnection with FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 shows that no moments effect the guidebody 11 and a deformation of the guide body 11 is thus not possible.Accordingly,

the member secured to the carrier 13 is subjected to a movementcorresponding to the linearity of the guide path 12.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is tobe understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in alimiting sense, the scope of the present invention being determined bythe objects and the claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for guiding a member along a stationary guide path of aguid body comprising,

a longitudinal guide body having opposite longitudinal surfaces defininga first guide surface and a second guide surface, respectively,

a longitudinal support having a supporting surface and longitudinallydisposed relative to said guide body,

a generally U-sh-aped member movably supported on said supportingsurface and having first and second sides, respectively, extendingadjacent and in spaced relationship relative to said first guide surfaceand second guide surfact respectively,

said supporting guide surface being disposed independent from said guidesurface of said guide body,

a U-shaped member carrier movably supported on said supporting guidesurface and extending therefrom adjacent said first guide surface ofsaid guide body between said first side of said generally U-sh-apedmember and said first guide surface,

first selectively adjustable pressure means connected to said first sideof said generally U-shaped member for pressing said member carrieragainst said first guide surface,

said member carrier constituting a first pressure element,

a counter-pressure element disposed between said second side of saidgenerally U-shaped member and said second guide surface of said guidebody, second pressure means connected to said second side of saidgenerally U-shaped member for pressing said counter pressure elementagainst said second guide surface of said guide body, said membercarrier and said counter-pressure element and said first and secondpressure means aligned to apply pressure from opposite sides to saidguide body 2. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidcounter-pressure element and said member carrier are pressing againstsaid first guide surface and second guide surface, respectively, andsaid first pressure means are pressing against said member carrier, atengaging points,

said engaging points between said first pressure means and said membercarrier as well as between said member carrier and said first guidesurface, and between said counter-pressure element and said second guidesurface are disposed on a line parallel to the direction of the pressureof said pressing.

3. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first pressuremeans includes a resilient member pressing against said member carrier.

4. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said resilient membercomprises a spring blade catch,

and

ball joints operatively connecting'said member carrier with said firstside of said member and operatively connecting said counter-pressureelement with said second side of said member, respectively.

5. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first pressuremeans includes a threaded bolt and nut combination secured to said firstside of said member,

said resilient member comprises a spring blade catch means includingradial arm portions for pressing against said member carrier,

said spring blade catch means includes projections on said arm portionsfacing said member carrier,

said member carrier having groove means in which said projections areslidably mounted for expansion of said spring blade catch means, and i aball disposed in a V-shaped ball joint groove between the end of saidthreaded bolt and the middle of said spring blade catch means.

6. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said engaging pointsbetween said memberv carrier and said guide body comprising slide shoesfor sliding against said first guide surface.

7. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at leasttwo longitudinally spaced first roller means, said member carrier issupported on said support surface by said at least two longitudinallyspaced first roller means,

said member carrier having an opening adjacent said sup-port pathbetween said at least two longitudinally spaced first roller means,

second roller means for supporting said member on said supportingsurface and passing through said opening, and

said member is fork-shaped and transversely surrounds said guide body.

8. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second pressuremeans and said counter-pressure element adapted for longitudinalmovement of said counter-pressure element against said second guidesurface when said second pressure means is longitudinally moved.

9. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 8, further comprising rollersdisposed between said counter-pressure element and said second guidesurface of said guide body and mounted on said counter-pressure element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/ 1892 Rowan 3086 6/ 1917McDonald 308-6 8/1918 Shoy 308-6 8/1930 Jackson 308-6 1/ 1932 Hutchinson308-3 9/1933 Van Berkel 308-3 5/1935 Holland 308-3.8

12/1939 Philippe 3332 12/1941 Devlin 3086 X 11/ 1942 Finn 3086 5/1943Gussock 308-6 X 9/1950 Hunt 16-97 X 1/1956 Steed 308-6 X 9/ 1957 Penkola308-3.8

10/ 1961 Wichers 3083.8 1/1963 Meyer 3083.8 8/ 1964 Dunharn 308-382/1965 Condon 3086 X FOREIGN PATENTS 12/ 1953 France.

11/ 1959 Italy.

MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Primary Examiner.

L. L. JOHNSON, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR GUIDING A MEMBER ALONG A STATIONARY GUIDE PATH OFGUIDE BODY COMPRISING, A LONGITUDINAL GUIDE BODY HAVING OPPOSITELONGITUDINAL SURFACES DEFINING A FIRST GUIDE SURFACE AND A SECOND GUIDESURFACE, RESPECTIVELY, A LONGITUDINAL SUPPORT HAVING A SUPPORTINGSURFACE AND LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSED RELATIVE TO SAID GUIDE BODY, AGENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER MOVABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID SUPPORTING SURFACEAND HAVING FIRST AND SECOND SIDES, RESPECTIVELY, EXTENDING ADJACENT ANDIN SPACED RELATIONSHIP RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST GUIDE SURFACE AND SECONDGUIDE SURFACT RESPECTIVELY, SAID SUPPORTING GUIDE SURFACE BEING DISPOSEDINDEPENDENT FROM SAID GUIDE SURFACE OF SAID GUIDE BODY, A U-SHAPEDMEMBER CARRIER MOVABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID SUPPORTING GUIDE SURFACE ANDEXTENDING THEREFROM ADJACENT SAID FIRST GUIDE SURFACE OF SAID GUIDE BODYBETWEEN SAID FIRST SIDE OF SAID GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER AND SAID FIRSTGUIDE SURFACE, FIRST SELECTIVELY ADJUSTABLE PRESSURE MEANS CONNECTED TOSAID FIRST SIDE OF SAID GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER FOR PRESSING SAIDMEMBER CARRIER AGAINST SAID FIRST GUIDE SURFACE, SAID MEMBER CARRIERCONSTITUTING A FIRST PRESSURE ELEMENT, A COUNTER-PRESSURE ELEMENTDISPOSED BETWEEN SAID SECOND SIDE OF SAID GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER ANDSAID SECOND GUIDE SURFACE OF SAID GUIDE BODY, SECOND PRESSURE MEANSCONNECTED TO SAID SECOND SIDE OF SAID GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER FORPRESSING SAID COUNTER-PRESSURE ELEMENT AGAINST SAID SECOND GUIDE SURFACEOF SAID GUIDE BODY, SAID MEMBER CARRIER AND SAID COUNTER-PRESSUREELEMENT AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND PRESSURE MEANS ALIGNED TO APPLYPRESSURE FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID GUIDE BODY THROUGH SAID MEMBERCARRIER AND SAID COUNTER-PRESSURE ELEMENT, RESPECTIVELY, PARALLEL TO THEDIRECTION OF SAID PRESSING OF SAID PRESSURE TO THE DIRECTION SAID FIRSTPRESSURE MEANS AND SAID MEMBER CARRIER ADAPTED FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENTOF SAID MEMBER CARRIER AGAINST SAID FIRST GUIDE SURFACE WHEN SAID FIRSTPRESSURE MEANS IS LONGITUDINALLY MOVED, AND SAID SELECTIVELY ADJUSTABLEFIRST PRESSURE MEANS FURTHER CONSTITUTES A COUPLER BETWEEN SAID FIRSTPRESSURE MEANS AND SAID MEMBER CARRIER FOR MOVING SAID MEMBER CARRIERLONGITUDINALLY ALONG SAID FIRST GUIDE SURFACE WHEN SAID FIRST PRESSUREMEANS IS LONGITUDINALLY MOVED.